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Murder on Maui #2

Wedding Day Dead

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A marital murder. A guest list of suspects. Just another night on Maui… Edgar Allan "Poe" Rutherford has just started his new life on Maui. He's moved in with his best friend and he's dating the woman of his dreams. But when Detective Alana Hu's ex-boyfriend comes to town, Poe discovers more than a few secrets that rain down on his corner of paradise. It's all he can think about until a member of the wedding party is fatally stabbed…

Poe welcomes the distraction to discover the killer, but there's only one he's considered a prime suspect. With his relationship on the rocks and the police investigating his every move, the detective is running out of chances to prove his innocence. Can he catch the real killer before he ends up behind bars?

Wedding Day Dead is the standalone second novel in the Murder on Maui series of island mysteries. If you like exotic locales, witty dialogue, and shocking twists, then you'll love Robert W. Stephens perfect beachside escape.

Buy Wedding Day Dead to RSVP for an entertaining whodunnit today!

211 pages, ebook

First published February 2, 2015

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About the author

Robert W. Stephens

34 books33 followers
Robert W Stephens is the author of the Murder on Maui series, the Alex Penfield novels, and the standalone thrillers The Drayton Diaries and Nature of Evil. When he’s not writing, you can find him behind a camera, directing commercials, videos, and indie films, or you may spot him traveling the world with his wife, where he’ll still be behind a camera, shooting photographs of ancient ruins, Gothic churches, or what they’re about to eat.

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5 stars
126 (51%)
4 stars
88 (36%)
3 stars
27 (11%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
6,584 reviews85 followers
February 5, 2024
In this second book of the series, Poe and Alana are doing fine, when her younger sister comes to town. It seems the sibling is going to marry Alana's former boyfriend. After some tense get togethers, Poe catches Alana kissing the guy, and later that night, the guy winds up dead.

The guy's mother asks him to poke around, and with his mind awhirl with thoughts about his relationship, he does just that, and takes a lot more damage than in the last book.

Still pretty good.
Profile Image for Ann.
2,202 reviews55 followers
September 24, 2025
4.0 stars. Book 2 was just as much fun to read as the 1st book. In the first few opening chapters, Poe, in his down to earth way, shares his thoughts on garage sales and his plane ride back to Maui. It's laugh out loud funny. Though soon after landing, he's asked to investigate a recent murder on the island. With so many suspects, this case was a tricky one and kept me guessing. Great mystery, suspense, and a darn good time.
Profile Image for Mitsy.
418 reviews19 followers
May 12, 2022
Surprise!

This book really surprised me. The sheer number of suspects, Poe’s growth, the climax, etc. just flowed. I love Poe and can’t wait to read more!
Profile Image for Evelyn.
1,655 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2024
good book

Enjoyed reading about Hawaii, been 3 times but only one day on Maui. I can exhaust you! Loved Poe and Alana. Good story line. Love Maui the dog, I have had 3 Yorkies. Worth reading definitely!!!
Profile Image for Donna.
668 reviews10 followers
December 22, 2022
This is a most engaging, entertaining read, with a complex plot! Poe has decided to relocate permanently to Maui from Virginia. He soon finds himself entangled in an investigation involving the murder of his girlfriend, Alana, sister's fiancée. There are numerous plot twists and turns, and each one reveals another potential suspect. The plot kept me guessing throughout as Poe races to find the real culprit and prevent any further murders. Robert W. Stephens has created characters and a book series that I truly enjoy. His style of writing makes me feel as if I am having a conversation with Poe. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
60 reviews
November 3, 2019
Always produces a good read!

Good plot and character development. I don't usually care for novels written in first person, but Mr. Stephens adeptly uses it. Quick and enjoyable read. Looking forward to #3.
Profile Image for Brenda Parrott.
20 reviews
February 17, 2021
Another Winner by Robert W. Stephens

I am hooked on Poe Rutherford and friends. Love the style of the author and the personality it gives to the people in the books.
Profile Image for ElaineY.
2,484 reviews68 followers
August 4, 2020
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; AUGUST 3, 2020
Narrator: R.C. Bray


Not as good as the first book. The first 6 chapters were like a chicklit romance where the protagonist was bitching about the current squeeze's ex. It was tiresome and so unlike a book written by a man, including the part about the ex being hung like a porn star. Then it start to sound like a male author (giving in to his penis envy) because said hung-like-a-porn-star-ex becomes the murder victim. The victim is Detective Alana Hu's ex who dumped her for her sister, Hani. The ex, Panos, and Hani are getting married in Maui and Poe is bitching non-stop about Alana not telling him about Panos until now (they have been dating a few months by now). Then Poe and Hani walk in on Panos and Ahana kissing the day before the wedding and so off Poe goes, bitching about the kiss, though understandably so, I guess.

Thank goodness Panos is killed that night and the murder investigation gets going, though I still have difficulty accepting Poe, an out-of-work architect, is going around questioning people as he tries to solve the murder. This time, it's Panos' mother who hires him to find out who killed her son. Poe takes on the job though he refuses payment, perhaps because he's so darn happy hung-like-a-porn-star-ex is permanently out of the way.

The whole set up of this series is preposterous but I find myself continuing to listen, and even finishing the book! Probably because it's refreshing to have a crime series set in a tropical paradise instead of cold, bleak, wintry locales, and because the plots are easy to follow, without any flashbacks (which I tend to dislike) and the overall cozy feel. The killer wasn't hard to guess.

I hope the third book will be less irritating in the relationship front.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,303 reviews99 followers
August 25, 2017
Another get story with Poe, Alana, and the rest of the gang .Alana's ex-boyfriend comes to Maui and that causes some unsettling feelings for Poe and Alana. Then Alana's ex is killed at a wedding....well the eyes point to Poe. Can he find the killer and keep himself out of jail, not to mention having his girlfriend arrest him for murder? There are surprising things going on in the book, I didn't see coming. Maybe because I was so engrossed by all the bantering between characters that was going on. Can't wait to read the next book! I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book through Reading Deals, so I could give an honest review.
Profile Image for Charles.
415 reviews
November 21, 2022
In this, the second book in the series, Edgar Allen Rutherford (Poe) decides to leave Virginia and move to Maui to start a new life. His friend, Foxx, whom Poe helped get out of a murder charge in the first book, invites Poe to stay with him till he finds a place to live. Poe soon finds himself entangled in a murder investigation as he tries to prove the innocence of detective Alana’s sister. The plot has many twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout! It is a fast paced, enjoyable book! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Jeannette.
694 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2017
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

Told in an interesting dialogue this book is filled with twists and great characters.
36 reviews
February 16, 2023
A nice series

The Murder on Maui Mystery series is an enjoyable ride through paradise. If you've ever been to Maui, these books will have you thinking that you are back there again. Very good descriptions of the island and filled with interesting characters.
Profile Image for Steve Thomas.
728 reviews5 followers
July 12, 2023
An engaging story

There are a bunch of eccentric characters in this story. Poe is finding his footing on Maui and gets involving solving a couple of murders. He is very clever and people seem to underestimate him.
25 reviews
March 30, 2020
#2 down, #3 to go

Addictive and delightful. I'm jealous. The main characters are believable and I imagine myself in May again. That is something!
Profile Image for L Kate.
1,279 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2021
Enjoyable. A good mystery. The protagonist has a Greta way of voicing his thoughts and seems quite insightful.
140 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2023
Excellent

I'm still loving the style of this author. Looking forward to the next in the series. It kept my interest, with the mystery and bits of comedy.
102 reviews
January 28, 2026
This one was a little better than the 1st. Super easy reads
Profile Image for Audiothing.
203 reviews17 followers
April 21, 2015
Audible edition
My Review
This book didn't really live up to the blurb, so as a result, this is a short review. I was expecting more excitement, more tension, but it never really happened for me. To start with, the characters didn't behave in a believable way, in particular the two sisters. I also found it to be quite strange behaviour on Alanas part, I couldn't understand why she would bother to conceal a past relationship from Poe. The murder was of the obvious victim, and I will say, the author did leave the reader enough clues to solve the mystery.

Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first book, however, I don't think I will be following any more of Poes adventures.

Narrator
R.C. Bray is an ward winning narrator, and quality shines through. I thought he nailed the characterisations without going overboard, a good, laid back story telling style. I enjoyed listening to him.

Profile Image for Kirsty Cochrane.
109 reviews
April 18, 2015
Wedding Day Dead was a murder mystery set on the island of Maui. I liked the idea of Poe who had just moved to Maui to lived with his friend Foxx and to maintain his new relationship with Alana. Poe is frank and honest and has great instincts. He was fun to listen to and kept me engaged in the story. The whole book is from his point of view which is a refreshing change from other authors who have taken to splitting their books across characters. This was the second book of the series and I found it easy to follow despite not having read the first. I enjoyed the mystery of the book, having absolutely no idea about the killer until all was revealed. There were a few possibilities and the author built up a few scenarios well enough to keep me guessing. I definitely recommend this book to others.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews